Euromontana is a European association for co-operation between mountain territories. Our constitution states that our purpose is to promote the economic, social, cultural and environmental interests of mountain areas and this is an accurate summary of our activity. Our network embraces regional and national mountain organisations from greater Europe, including: socio-professional organisations - agricultural and rural development centres, economic development and environmental agencies, territorial authorities, and research institutes. This multisectoral quality makes Euromontana particularly dynamic and flexible in responding to mountain challenges and influences and reinforces our mission to promote integrated and sustainable development.
Although our unofficial motto might be "actions not words" and we pride ourselves on our technical and operational capacity, we also take every opportunity to describe the fragility of mountain communities and to promote the invaluable economic and social potential of these territories. This of course means that we do act politically. The technical role is important because it reinforces the political role and provides more immediate impact. We work in that political field together with AEM, the association of Elected Representatives from Mountain areas.
Our main message is very simple: Europe's mountain areas are among the last reservoirs of diversity, not only biodiversity but diversity of culture, craft and local products. In this age of globalisation and standardisation, mountain communities represent a precious but fragile economic and social asset for Europe. It is therefore not just morally wrong to neglect mountain areas but also economically irresponsible.
There are indications that this argument is affecting both the Member States' perception of mountain issues and the European institutions' strategy. Along with islands and sparsely populated areas, mountains were identified in the Second European Cohesion Report as a regional policy priority for the Union. In June 2004 the draft European Constitution adopted by the Convention on the Future of Europe also mentions mountains and joins the concept of Territorial Cohesion to Economic and Social Cohesion as the central tenets of European Regional Development. However, we cannot sit back and just enjoy the recognition of the mountain issue while important changes in the European and national regional and rural development strategies are still ongoing. We must make sure that mountains and mountain people are given a fair chance to survive and continue to contribute to the diversity of Europe.
What are the specificities of European mountainous regions?
While we have to acknowledge that there is a significant variation in the prosperity of mountain regions, all suffer permanent common disadvantages, imposed by the physical impact of mountain features, such as fragmentation of communities, difficulties of access and communication, adverse agricultural conditions. These often combine with other structural problems, such as lack of access to higher education and depopulation. But we must also recognise the many special qualities of mountain areas: rich environmental resources, unique local products, and, most of all, resilient and resourceful communities.
How important is the European dimension for the development of mountain areas?
It would be unfair to Member States to suggest that the European dimension is paramount, but it is true that in most European countries the mountain perspective is a minority issue. Combining and coordinating these separate mountain interests at European level is therefore invaluable in ensuring true territorial cohesion. The existence of a clear European mountain strategy can only assist in concentrating Member States' attention on problems that might otherwise be overlooked.
It is difficult to envisage the successful application throughout Europe of specific policies developed by, and suited to, one Member State. However Euromontana feels that more general approaches developed locally can usefully be transferred. These exchanges are of the most significant value when they are focused on strategic fields and on what we consider to be the "comparative advantages" of mountain areas.
For example the way quality products have been successfully developed in some mountain regions can provide valuable strategic information for other mountain areas. For example, quality food production is an opportunity that must not be missed and it is our view that this opportunity is most clearly available to mountain areas.
2, Place du Champ de Mars
B - 1050 Bruxelles
T: +32 2 280 42 83
F: +32 2 280 42 85
info@euromontana.org
(Porte de Namur Metro station)